Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina

This amazing novel packs a punch--there is so much that makes it both intriguing and high interest, so it’s ideal for teens who have not yet tried or enjoyed historical fiction. Set in 1977 New York City, the author vividly and realistically recreates the setting--the city and time period almost feel like major characters in the story.

Although the city is terrorized by a series of murders, (eventually revealed as the true Son of Sam murders), main character Nora has additional problems on her mind. Her older brother Hector is becoming more and more a stranger--staying out all night, spending time with dangerous people, and getting into drugs. Nora’s single mother pushes her to watch out for Hector and keep him in line--but how, when his temper becomes more explosive and unpredictable everyday? Nora is working and saving money so that she can move out on her own and escape her family’s problems for good. But will her dreams go up in flames during one crazy summer? I recommend this book to readers who like reading about family issues, urban fiction, suspense, and relationships. This book, its characters, and sense of place are unforgettable--I could not get my nose out of it until I turned the last page and I still think about it.

The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

Set in World War II-era Amsterdam, the main character Hanneke fights her own resistance of the Nazis as a black market worker. She is able to find what others cannot for the people who are willing to pay for rare luxuries like chocolate or meat. Hanneke’s talent is delivering the impossible, until Mrs. Janssen asks her to find a person instead of an item: a hidden Jewish teenager who has seemingly vanished into thin air from a secret room in Mrs. Janssen’s home. Hanneke must try to solve the mystery and find the missing girl before the Nazis do, but how? I recommend this book to fans of Ruta Sepetys’ Between Shades of Gray or Holocaust historical fiction. This book is truly incredible, intoxicating, and intense--it’s one of the best I’ve read all year.

Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez

There is a reason this book was named a Printz Honor Book. Author Perez uses fictional characters to tell the story of the New London school explosion, the worst school disaster in U.S. history. Although the historical research is well-done and interesting, the characters are what pull readers in--and they refuse to let go. The story is centered on Naomi; her twin half-siblings Beto and Cari; and Wash. Naomi, a Mexican girl, and Wash, a Black boy, strike up a friendship that ignores the strictly drawn racial lines in 1937 East Texas. Naomi's half-siblings pass as white because their father enrolls them in school using the names Robert and Carrie Smith, rather than their given birth names. Naomi, on the other hand, is quickly identified by her classmates as Not White. Her unmatched beauty does not help her situation at school--the girls envy her and the boys leer at her. The story that unfolds will keep readers up late into the night until they reach the unforgettable ending. After finishing this book, I wasn't able to sleep and its conclusion is still haunting me days later. I absolutely recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction and stories about racial inequities, as well as intoxicating page turners. Due to mature content, I do not recommend this book for middle school students. It is suited to high school/college students, or adult readers. 

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

I was almost afraid to read this book because so many people told me how amazing it was, and that it was even better than Ruta's first novel, Between Shades of Gray. I was worried it would not live up to expectations, but I had no need to worry...this read was truly wonderful. The book tells the stories of four teens who eventually end up on the fated Wilhelm Gustloff in hopes of fleeing Stalin's advances. Each chapter is told from distinctly different, yet engaging, perspectives of the four characters: Joana, Alfred, Florian, and Emilia. I recommend this books to readers who like historical fiction, novels about World War II, and action/adventure. This book is one of my very favorites I've read this school year--pick it up and I dare you to try putting it down before you turn the last page. It's really just that addictive, engaging, and throughly well-done.